A classical musician who beat and strangled his world-renowned concert pianist wife has been found guilty of murder.

Norwegian national John Martin (48) showed no reaction at Manchester Crown Court as he was found guilty of killing 4ft 11ins Natalia Strelchenko.

The victim was found with serious head and neck injuries at the couple's home in Newton Heath, Manchester, on their second wedding anniversary.

Martin stood in the dock wearing a grey pin-striped suit over a grey-and-black striped open-neck shirt as the foreman of the jury of six men and six women read out the verdicts.

During the trial, a friend who had been staying at the couple's home described how the double-bass player flew at petite Ms Strelchenko - who was also known by the surname of Strelle - "like an animal", throwing both himself and wife down the stairs before delivering repeated punches to her body. When the female guest pleaded with him to stop, he said: "I want to kill her".

Martin was cleared of the attempted murder of a male youth who cannot be named for legal reasons. He will be sentenced on Monday.